Israel. Most people I’ve talked to who’ve visited say it’s a life-changing experience. What do you consider to be life-changing? Surrendering my life to Jesus Christ was the ultimate for me. Marrying Chris, teaching middle school, and moving to Tennessee all take second place in that category. And having children? Talk about life-changing! It turned everything I’d known on its …
A few weeks ago, my daughter Nikki came for an overnight visit, and as always, she had a new book with her. Although she’s one of my biggest fans, our taste in fiction doesn’t often run along the same lines. She’s an eclectic reader whose only criteria is that the book she’s reading must be well-written and interesting. On that …
Can you believe this is the season ending month for Between the Lines? I can’t. It seems like I just got started. I’m pleased to have chatted with two very different authors this past month—Marbeth Skwarcynski from right here in the states and Jean Saxby from Sydney, Australia. Marbeth is an indie author who has a unique voice when ministering …
About the Book Book: Path to Grace Author: Cheri Swalwell Genre: Christian Women’s Fiction Release Date: October 20, 2022 Everyone knows that Ariana does not get rejected. Used to getting her own way, Ariana grew up having her daddy wrapped around her little finger—and he still is. As an adult, she goes through life expecting that all men will give …
When I read the back cover copy of Becca Kinzer’s Dear Henry, Love Edith the movie You’ve Got Mail came to mind—even before it was mentioned at the end of the BCC as being reminiscent of said movie. I am a huge fan of anything by Nora Ephron, including this one. So, of course, I was excited to delve into …
For a writer, a blank mind is a scary place. Monday is looming, and I have nothing to blog about. I’ve been reading through the prophets in the Bible over the last several weeks, but we get enough doom and gloom in the present without me sharing my take on Jeremiah and Ezekiel. How the Israelites sinning against God sounds …
Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. 1Thesselonians 5:18 Be thankful. In all circumstances. Can you imagine being thankful when packed with thousands of others in a suffocating crowd? Dirty, smelly bodies? What if you were required to sleep on a flea- and lice-infested, moldy, filthy mat? …
Spontaneous. Dictionary.com defines this word as coming or resulting from a natural impulse or tendency; without effort or premeditation; natural and unconstrained; unplanned. I think about spontaneous people as being the life of the party—fun-loving. Who doesn’t want to spread a little joy when hanging out with friends? Spontaneity is a good thing, right? I certainly don’t want to be …
Another month has gone by, and I’ve had the joy of meeting two new-to-me authors. I just have to say, we live in a very small world. Mere days after I initially interviewed Karen Randau in May (for August 3rd’s podcast) I went to the Blue Ridge Christian Writer’s Conference. Karen told me she would be attending along with five …
Feeling stressed or overwhelmed? Need a little spiritual pick-me-up? The other night I was woken by an “emergency” phone call from Japan, of all places, which led to a second phone call to my son. I don’t know about you, but once I’m awake and handed a bag of worry, I have a hard time going back to sleep. My …
